Overall: The Impreza WRX is a rally car at heart disguised as a sedan. It’s extremely fun to drive and easy on the wallet.

The 2009 Impreza WRX is the next generation of Subaru’s long line of rally inspired cars that have satisfied enthusiasts for years now. This year’s model has something to offer everyone from racing enthusiasts to soccer moms.

For one, this 4-door sedan version of the Impreza is very stylish with softer, sleeker edges than its predecessors. Don’t let all this softness fool you, under the hood lies a 2.5L four-cylinder inter-cooled turbo that can crank out 265 horsepower. A significant jump in power compared to last year’s output of 224 hp. The interior has Recaro-style seating which ‘hugs’ the driver and has the sexy race-car metal sport pedals. The car was surprisingly roomy and could comfortably seat 5, while the rear seats could fold down to provide additional trunk space for larger items such as bicycles. The seats adjust manually and the car had the standard key ignition. As a petite woman, the ergonomics were excellent and all the driver buttons were within arms reach. It had power windows, power doors, a moon-roof, and heated seats (which is always an added bonus). It’s just what you’d expect from this car which is supposed to woo you by its performance.

As a new added ‘toy’, there’s the touch-screen GPS/CD/DVD player setup in the dash. The DVD video system would play videos when the vehicle was stopped. Although a little absurd while driving, I could enjoy my favorite episodes of Sex in the City or House while sitting at a red light. While I’m not sure if this feature will be fully embraced by the masses of car consumers, it was a fun feature to play with and enjoy.

After looking over the exterior and the interior of the car, I eagerly anticipated taking this car out onto the roads nearby. Once out of the city-street traffic and onto the open highways and secluded roads, this vehicle really began to showcase its abilities. I was really impressed as this car easily tackled anything I threw at it and asked for more thanks to the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system that kept the car was glued to the asphalt. It made the vehicle handling through sharp corners and turns extremely smooth.
Now, let’s talk Turbo. Absolutely amazing accelerating power (both necessary and un-necessary)! I was actually happy to catch a sequence of red lights just so I could feel the Impreza really move. The Turbo would kick in ~3500rpm and the car would blast off! There was no holding back. Some cars let you know when they’re going too fast by talking back. The Impreza was very quiet and when looking down at the speedometer, I’d easily catch myself going over 80 mph, then grinning ear to ear.

The Impreza WRX is a playful, sporty car that oozes driving enjoyment. With all its cool features, this is a superbly capable and fun car that just wants to be driven. If you’re a person who wants a complete package car while still being fun to drive, this is the car for you.

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